The French fruit growing enterprise Ogier Fruits was founded in 1893. 125 years later the company is managed by the brothers Nicolas and Jérôme Ogier and specialised in the cultivation of the Pear Williams and the manufacturing of several fruit juices, schnapps, fruit in syrup and apple compote. Apart from Pear Williams, Ogier Fruits mainly grows Conference, Passe Crassane and Comice.
The pear season has almost come to an end. Jérôme: “We still have some small volumes of Passe Crassane and Comice, but for the other varieties we are basically out of stock.” Looking back on last season, Jérôme is positive. “Of course volumes did decrease because of the frost and hailstorms last spring, but generally speaking it has been a successful year during which we could offer nice and sweet pears.”
Jérôme Ogier showing one of the juices produced by Ogier Fruits
The main pear varieties grown by Ogier Fruits: Green Williams, Red Williams, Conference and Passe Crassane
Ogier Fruits is based on a historic piece of ground. Jérôme: “Our oldest orchards date from the start of the twentieth century. Some others are about 50 years old. We have replanted some of our orchards with 5 to 8 years old trees. We also have a piece of land where we grow small quantities of varieties such as Abbé Fetel, Triomphe de Vienne, Louise Bonne, Cascade and Packham’s.”
The ‘Eau de vie Poire Williams’
Jérôme emphasizes the need for a good commercialization network on the pear market. “We sell our pears to the processing industry or on the fresh market. Apart from the French market we export our products to European countries like Germany and the Benelux.”
Ogier Fruits also grows apples, peaches, apricots, kiwis, strawberries and cherries. All apples produced by the company are sold on the local market. Jérôme: “At the moment, the apple market is comparable to the pear market. There aren’t enough first choice apples to satisfy the demand but there still are plenty of second choice apples available.”
For more information: 
Ogier Fruits
LE DEVEZ – 45 Chemin des Tuilières
38200 Seyssuel
0033 4 74 20 44 29